Senior Practitioner

Role Responsibility

Join Our Dynamic Canterbury Social Work Service as a Senior Practitioner!

Are you an experienced social worker looking to take the next step in your career? Our Canterbury Social Work Service, based at our Local Office in Whitstable, is seeking a dedicated and passionate Senior Practitioner to join our team.

We pride ourselves on being an experienced and supportive service with 5 dedicated teams working collaboratively to make a real difference in the lives of children and families. As a Senior Practitioner, you will play a crucial role in leading and mentoring our talented social workers, ensuring the highest standards of practice and care.

Why Join Us?

• Supportive Environment: Our teams are known for their strong support network and collaborative spirit. You'll be joining a community that values teamwork and mutual support.
• Professional Development: We are committed to your growth and development. You'll have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Impactful Work: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families in our community. Your expertise and dedication will help shape the future of social work in Canterbury.

If you are passionate about social work and ready to take on a leadership role in a dynamic and supportive environment, we want to hear from you. Join us at Canterbury Social Work Service and be part of a team that is making a positive impact every day.

About you

Professionally registered with a degree in social work – CQSW, DipSW or equivalent – registered as a social worker with Social Work England - you will have a variety of post-qualification experience of working with children and families. Your experience should cover systemic practice, and you will need an in-depth understanding of legislative and policy frameworks.

Along with a willingness to learn and develop as a practitioner, being a team player is essential in any social work team. You will build relationships with colleagues, as well as statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies.

If you share this vision of excellent Social Work practice, we want to hear from you.

Rewards

In return for helping us achieve our aims, there is a strong commitment to supporting your professional development. As a qualified Social Worker we know that you want to make a difference and working at Kent County Council you will be given every support and opportunity to do so.

We offer an attractive benefits package and a commitment to ensuring that you achieve a healthy work life balance with flexible working arrangements and an emphasis on health and well-being.

About us

The right team

Doing the best for the children of Kent is a team effort and we’ve worked hard to create a culture that fosters excellence and collaboration – a place where social workers are empowered to be creative, share ideas and advice.

The right team needs the right managers. Ours have a well-deserved reputation for being supportive through regular, quality supervision. We also have a number of credible expert practitioners to learn from and you will find them approachable and keen to help. Sharing knowledge is part of who we are. Together, our teams deliver strengthened services and improved outcomes for children.

An integral part of re-thinking the way we work remotely is support for YOU going forward. Here you'll find the assistance, guidance and training available for all colleagues and managers to enable you to make flexible working work for you, your team and your service.

The right time

There has never been a better time to join us. We have invested in every area of our service including the careers of outstanding people who share our commitment to improving young lives in Kent.

The right place

We are proud of our Ofsted rating of outstanding and we are continuing to develop excellent services and ensure ‘Children are at the centre of Kent County Council’s culture and practice’ (Ofsted 2022.) As one of the largest Children’s Social Work Service in the country, we offer a comprehensive learning and development framework in Kent. And because one size doesn’t fit all, we offer opportunities that can be tailored to individual, and team needs.

We can offer a wide variety of work that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Kent is a large and diverse county, offering a broad range of opportunities to support children and young people from all backgrounds and circumstances. You will be able to work across a range of locations and environments, and to be seconded to or move to other teams. 

We place great importance on professional development that enables you to grow your skills and knowledge to manage a varied caseload. There will be new challenges and opportunities with case work and as part of the wider organisation, e.g. developing specialist links with partner agencies and representing Children’s Services in court.

Acting as a role model and mentor to less experienced colleagues, you will contribute to training initiatives, and, proactively maintaining your awareness of changes in child development theories, legislation, policies and practices, you will share your knowledge and uphold high standards of social work.

Benefits

• A competitive starting salary, including an annual market premium payment of up to £5,000 - subject to eligibility.
• A supportive team working environment with regular supervision.
• Access to a wide range of formal and informal CPD activities underpinned by a performance appraisal scheme and career progression pathway.
• An annual appraisal linking your learning and development needs.
• Generous annual leave allowance.
• Local Government pension scheme.
• Access to smarter working / flexible working.
• Relocation Package.
• You will also have a range of professional development opportunities including the exciting social care academy and routes for progression. 

Transport

Whilst we foster a hybrid working approach, the role requires you to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the county of Kent and beyond to transport children and their belongings and be available to do so in an emergency. 

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

Eligibility

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. Please do not re-apply if you have been interviewed for this post in the last six months.

Contact Details

To find out more about the role please get in touch today by emailing Jadie Coleman-White on Jadie.Coleman-White@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

KCC is transitioning to a new pay structure from 1st April 2025.  More details can be found here - Pay - Jobs & Careers - Kent County Council 

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.